9 July 2018 – Vancouver, BC – Starbucks has announced today that it is removing fossil fuel derived plastic straws from its 28,000 stores globally by 2020, including its over 1000 stores in Canada. Starbucks says the move will eliminate 1 billion non-recyclable plastic straws each year, though the company will continue to offer throwaway paper or bioplastic straws for certain frozen drinks. Starbucks new lids will be debuted in Vancouver, BC and Seattle, Washington. The company is also encouraging customers to bring their own reusable tumblers by rolling out a 5p paper cup charge in 950 stores across the UK in July, adding further incentive to the 25p discount already offered to those who bring their own cups.
In response to the news, Greenpeace Canada’s Head of Oceans & Plastics Sarah King said:
“Starbucks is taking a step in the right direction by eliminating fossil fuel derived plastic straws, and acknowledging its role in the plastic pollution crisis. But the company must do more to tackle its massive plastic footprint globally and innovate away from its reliance on disposable plastics. Starbucks produces billions of throwaway plastic cups and other single-use items, and has yet to go beyond proposing recyclable alternatives. Only about 10-12% of plastic waste is recycled in Canada, and only 9% globally. We’ll never recycle our way out of the plastics crisis we’re facing, so while eliminating petroleum plastic straws is a positive development, the company should not simply replace them with a plastic lid alternative and another disposable material.”
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Contact: Loujain Kurdi, Greenpeace Communications Officer, P: 1 514 577 6657
